People of any age, gender, ethnicity or religion can one day need a life-changing organ or tissue transplant.
The Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA) is working with states and territories, clinicians and the community sector to improve access to life-transforming transplants, and establish Australia as a world leader in best practice organ and tissue donation for transplantation.
DonateLife Week is part of the Organ and Tissue Authority’s broader community education efforts supporting the national reform programme to increase organ and tissue donation rates in Australia.
It provides a timely reminder to all Australians of the need to discuss their donation decision with loved ones, and to ask and know their donation decisions. It’s a week dedicated to having the chat that saves lives.
Just one organ donor can transform the lives of ten or more people, and last year 378 organ donors gave 1,117 Australians a new chance in life. But the opportunity for organ donation is rare – less than 1% of people die in hospital in the specific circumstances where organ donation is possible. Many more people can become tissue donors, as the circumstances required are less restricted.
In Australia the family of every potential donor will be asked to confirm the donation decision of their loved one before donation can proceed. Families that have discussed donation and know the decisions of their loved ones almost always say ‘yes.’ Discussing donation with your family - or having the chat that saves lives - is vital, as it will help your loved ones to be prepared should the opportunity for donation ever arise.
To discover the facts about donation, or to register your donation decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register, visit donatelife.gov.au
Organ and tissue donation saves and transforms lives every year.
The below information has been provided by DonateLife